Asparagus can



Marta! 24, 1931. 5 A KELCHNER 1,797,868

ASPARAGUS CAN Filed June 19, 1950 WEN AT THE BOTTOM v k v QPEN AT THES END ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 24, .1 93 1 UNITED s'rA'res SARAH A. KELCHNER, or new YORK, nn-Y.

AsrAnAeos CAN Application filed June 19,

This invention relates to cans adapted to contain bunches of asparagus, and the object of the invention is to Construct such cans in such a way that. the consumer will necessarily open the can not at the top thereof, but at the bottom, where the butt or out ends of the asparagusare located.

In asparagus cans as heretofore made, a label illustrative of the contents is ordinarily applied, so that the consumer handles the can withthe tips of the asparagus always extending upwardly into the free space at the top of thecan. The tips ofthe asparagus are the delicate portions of this vegetable.

The ordinary housewife, accustomed to handle such cans in this way, almost automatically removes the top of the can in opening it and then the asparagus, in sliding from the can on to a plate or dish, is generally 0 injured, notwithstanding care that may be taken in effecting the transfer of the contents of the can to the plate. If, on the other hand, the can is opened at the bottom, the asparagus slides from the can with its tougher ends first and the tips are protected from injury because they are not exposed to violent contact with the receptacle to which they are transferred. The particular object of the present invention accordingly is to make up the can in such a way that the consumerwill be positively'deterred from attempting to open the can at the top but will be compelled, by reason of some means associated with the can itself, to open it at its bottom and to refrain from opening it atits top.

The manner in which. this is accomplished, is shown in the annexed drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of acan ofasparagus embodying my invention intone of its forms; Fig. 2 shows atop View of such a can embodying a modification of my'invention; and

Fig. 3 shows a top View of another modification; Fig. 4 shows a .view of the bottom of the can adapted to be used in conjunction tion shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3.

In Fig. 1 the can illustrated comprises the top plate 1,'sides 2 and bottom plate 3. The

bunches of asparagus rest upon the bottomplate" with their cut or butt ends in contact sents the preferred embodiment of the inwith each of the modifications of the inven 1930. $eria1"No.1462,19O. :1 i g g therewith..' The bottom'plate'3 is fabricated of such material or'is so associated with the s1des2 of the can as to be readilyremovable v by the manipulation of an auxiliary tool such as perforationf by a can opener. Upon the can are contained prominent means for unmistakably and forcibly directing the consumers attention-to the necessity of opening the can at'thebottom and not at the top. In Fig.1 these meansfcomprise the letters 4; and symbols 5jprintedup'on the label or embossed on the 'sides of the can and preferably colored r'ed'or some other brilliant, contrasting color, theletters forming a legend such as Open at the bottom or fOpen at this end or one or more ofv suchlegends. The symbols 5 may also-beef a similar connotation and as illustrated in FigJl may be in the form of pointers or arrows. In'Fig; 2 the top ofthe can is provided with a label reading, for exremoved, the'consumer would still be prop- I erlyadvised. T Suchstamping or embossing ofthe top of the canobviously deforms the metal 'ofthis part'ofthe can, and forthat Very reason, because its permanencerepre vention. It is obvious that numerous modifications maybe madewithout "departing from the spirit of the invention and that the invention may be v incorporated in a can adapted to containasparagus in many other forms and ways than those specifically illustrated which are intended to be merely illustrative or typical. 7 r

I am aware that cans of fruit and vegetables have probablybeen' heretofore opened either at the top or at the bottom or have vbeen so constructed that they might be opened at either end, but in all those cases it is immaterial whether the can is opened at one end or theother. It is only in the case of a vegetable such as asparagus which diifers in delicacy of structure and tenderness 'in each of the vegetable units, that it makes any difference whether one or the other end of the can is openedifor the removal of its contents, and it ample, in a prominent fashion: Dont open is only in connection with vegetables of this character that I claim the necessity of the presence of prominent, unmistakable means on the canto deter the consumer from opening the top of the can;

I claim:

1. A food packa e comprising scan substantially filled wit a plurality of stalks of asparagus compactly arranged therein, said can having a substantially flat end wall adjacent which the butts of the stalks are arranged, the can further bearing indicia di recting the consumer to open the can at said fiat end wall, the side walls of said can being arranged so as to permit the stalks of asparagus to pass through the opening provided by removal of the fiat endwall.

2.7 A can for asparagus having side walls, a substantially flat bottom end, and an opposite end comprising the top of the can when said can is in normal position of rest, there being indicia inscribed on the can defining the top and bottom ends respectively, and a plurality of substantially compactly packed stalks of I asparagus in said can arranged longitudinally thereof with their butt ends adjacent the bottom end and their tender tip ends adjacent the top end, said bottom end support ing the stalks of asparagus on their butt ends when the container is in normal'position of rest and being of such a character as to be removable byoperation of an auxiliary tool, said can further having indicia inscribed thereon directing the consumer to open the can at its bottom end,fthe walls of said can being so arranged as to permit the stalks of asparagus to pass through the bottom end when opened, whereby said asparagus stalks normally rest on their butt ends in the can and are removed from said-can with their butt ends foremost thereby to effect protection of thetender tips. 7

1 3. A canfor asparagus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the indicia for directing the consumer to open the can at its bottom end comprises a deformation of the top end of the can into an instructive legend.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7 v SARAH A. KELCHNER. 

